1984 – Original Irish Life Scheme for George’s Quay, Dublin

The original scheme of over 500,000 square foot of offices, retail and a limited amount of residential that received planning permission with several conditions after a public hearing. Originally six office blocks and a central tower, An Bord Pleanála asked for the perimeter buildings to be scaled back and a distinctively vertical emphasis given to the central tower. It was suggested at the time that Irish Life could extend the tower to 20 storeys in height as the board had not specified any height limit. The planning conditions meant that the scheme could include 480,000 sq. ft. of offices, 18,000 sq. ft of retail and recreational accommodation; 3,500 sq. ft of apartments or eight in total, and parking for 450 cars and 120 bikes.

The Irish Press newspaper (now defunct), of June 19, 1984, reported that “The central tower will provide a modern counterpoint to Gandon’s Custom House directly opposite and give Ireland the type of waterfront scheme that has become a feature of modern capitals around the world”.

The planning boards decision was attacked by Prof. Kevin Nowlan of the Dublin Civic Group. “If this proposal is constructed, then the Custom House – one of the great glories not just of Irish but of European architecture – will be dwarfed by a massive impersonal development. It was an office development which contained only derisory housing content and would not fulfill any particularly cultural gesture in the direction of function in the area”.